Philadelphia Union Foundation proposes $411,000 Chester 'safe spaces' pitch and court renovations with local partners

Representatives of the Philadelphia Union Foundation told Chester City Council on Sept. 24 they have raised $411,000 to rebuild a small soccer pitch and repair three basketball courts at Seventh and Penn, part of a broader “safe spaces” initiative to create recreation fields for Chester youth.

Melissa Radu, executive director of the Philadelphia Union Foundation, described four foundation initiatives that include career readiness programming, Chester soccer and Chester Union (a no‑cost club), mental‑health programming called Head First, and the safe spaces pitch project. She said the funders for the Chester project include the Philadelphia Union Foundation, the Kevin Durant Foundation, private donors and the Ron Jaworski Foundation.

Radu described the planned improvements as resurfacing the courts, painting murals, installing solar lights and adding a small sided mini‑pitch for neighborhood play. The project team cited a $411,000 fundraising total and said they hope to start construction once necessary approvals are secured. Radu said the foundation has partnered with Love Football on a longer plan to build multiple pitches in the Philadelphia region by 2030 and that Chester is among planned early sites.

Mayor Stefan Roots and other council members thanked the foundation and noted local ties, including former Councilman Will Morgan, who serves on the Philadelphia Union board and helped connect partners. Council and staff asked for copies of the project materials; foundation staff provided renderings at the meeting.

Ending: Foundation leaders and city officials said they hope the project will give Chester youth more places to play and train; staff and foundation representatives said they would return with more details as the project moves from fundraising to permitting and construction.